Industrial minerals

Industrial minerals map

The BGS industrial minerals map shows the broad distribution of the industrial mineral resources of Britain and the main sites where they are worked. Superficial deposits, which cover bedrock, are not shown. Resources have been defined by dominant lithology (rock type), and include limestones, sands and sandstones, mudstones, igneous and metamorphic rocks. These are sub–divided according to rock properties which are influenced by geological age and tectonic history. The occurrence and, where appropriate, subsurface extent of gypsum, salt, potash, china clay and ball clay are also shown.

Mineral extraction sites are identified by symbol shape (for type of operation) and colour (for the type of mineral commodity). Selected industrial minerals, including china clay, ball clay, fuller's earth, salt, gypsum, potash, fluorspar, barytes and talc, are identified by a code. Two important mineral producing areas, the St Austell Granite china clay area and the limestone resources of Derbyshire, are covered by inset maps. Additional information on specific industrial minerals is provided in explanatory text boxes surrounding the coastline.